Pretoria’s man in Tel Aviv: South Africa’s new envoy to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, criticizes Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians but says he wants to engage in dialogue with the Jewish state. (Times of Israel)

Al Qaida in Israel’s backyard: Within sight of IDF tanks patrolling the Golan Heights, Syrian Islamist fighters are strategizing against the regime in Damascus and praising Osama bin Laden.(Reuters)

Congress in the settlements: Sympathetic members of the U.S. Congress have been touring Israel’s West Bank settlements. (Tazpit News Agency)